Novice Challenges 8-year Incumbent

CAMPAIGN 2004: ORANGE COUNTY VOTERS GUIDE - SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS

October 31, 2004|By Rich Mckay, Sentinel Staff Writer

A political newcomer who still owes a civil fine to the City of Orlando for not following rules during a bid for a commission seat seven months ago is vying to become Orange County's election boss. Mike Hart, 30, a fitness adviser and part-time bartender, is trying to unseat Supervisor of Elections Bill Cowles, 50, who has been in office for eight years.

Cowles said he believes voters should back him because he has experience running the complex office.

"It all comes down to the voters. They have to decide who is best qualified to administer the election laws," said Cowles, who is also president of the Florida State Association of Supervisors of Elections.

"I believe that my eight years as supervisor of elections and seven years as chief deputy make me the best qualified to run a fair and nonpartisan election," he said.

Cowles said that Hart's mistakes in handling the basic nuts-and-bolts of his city commission campaign in March show a lack of knowledge, experience and ability to handle the elections office.

Hart owes the city a little more than $200 in unpaid civil fines for failing to file required campaign-finance documents, according to the city clerk's office. The Florida Elections Commission ruled in May that Hart owes the money and that it must be paid from his own funds -- not campaign cash.

The city clerk's office said that he also failed to file a final report at the end of his election -- which could result in fines of up to $500 a day or 25 percent of the value of his campaign collections. But the clerk's office said it does not plan to pursue more fines.

In his bid for Cowles' seat, Hart was required to re-file his campaign reports four times because of mistakes that ranged from taking more money in cash than local rules allow to incomplete information.

Hart claims that he's made fewer mistakes than most newcomers to politics and criticized Cowles' office for being too passive in drumming up voter turnout for elections.

He proposed using the office to conduct public forums and debates among candidates.

"I'm suggesting that the supervisor of elections take a very active role and campaign with enough ferocity to get the voters to the polls," he said.

Cowles countered that elections supervisors must "separate ourselves to just run the elections and not be seen as campaigning for one person or another."

Hart also claimed that Cowles' office should have investigated claims of absentee-ballot fraud during the March mayoral race.

But Cowles said that the complaint focused on how absentee ballots were obtained by an independent worker, and not on how his office handled or counted ballots.

Cowles also pointed out that during the the 2000 presidential election that saw endless recounts across the state, his office was praised by both Democrats and Republicans for running a trouble-free election night.